50Synonyms found for root

Word Origin & History

root "underground part of a plant," late O.E. rot, from O.N. rot "root," from P.Gmc. *wrot, *vrot (with characteristic loss of -w- before -r-), from PIE *wrd-. The O.E. cognate was wyrt "root, herb, plant" (see wort); also cognate with L. radix. The usual O.E. words for "root" were wyrttruma and wyrtwala. Figurative use is from c.1200. Of teeth, hair, etc., from early 13c. Mathematical sense is from 1550s. Slang meaning "penis" is recorded from 1846. The verb meaning "fixed or firmly attached by roots" (often figurative) is attested from late 14c.; sense of "to pull up by the root" (now usually ...uproot) also is from late 14c. Root beer first recorded 1843, Amer.Eng.; root doctor is from 1821.